180 



REDBUD. 

 Cercis canadensis, Linnaeus. 



GENTTS DESCBIPTIOK — Tbis genus comprises 7 species of small trees and shrubs found in 

 parts of Asia. Europe and North America. Three species are native to North America, 1 

 inhabiting California, 1 Mexico and Texas, and 1 eastern United States. The latter is native 

 to Pennsylvania and described here. Tbey are prized mainly on account of their ornamental value 

 due to their bright rose-colored, pea-like flowers which cover the branches with a profuse and 

 brilliant flame of color in early spring before the leaves come out. 



FORM — A small tree usually about 15-20 ft. high with a diameter of 6 inches but may reach a 

 height of 50 ft. with a diameter of 18 inches. Trunk short bearing rather upright branches 

 which form a shallow and broad crown. 



BARK — Thin, shallowy fissured separating ridges which peel off into numerous scales, reddish- 

 brown to veiy dark brown. See Fig. 5C. 



TWIGS— Slender, smooth, light brown, becoming grayish-brown, covered with numerous very 

 small lenticels, containing pith which sometimes has reddish longitudinal streaks. 



BUDS — Alternate; terminal one absent; small, | of an inch long, blunt-pointed, dark purplish- 

 red. sph-*rical or somewhat flattened when appressed. Sometimes superposed with upper one 

 usually the larger, or clustered at the base of a lateral branch, covered with 2-3 visible scales 

 with hairy margin. 



LEAVES — Alternate, simple, rounded < 

 nerved, cordute at basa, pointed at apex, 



r heart-shaped. 3-5 inches long, conspicuously 5-7 

 entire on margin. 



LEAF-SCARS — Alternnte, 2-ranked, inversely triangular to heart-shaped, somewhat raised, 

 containing 3 conspicuous bundle-scars. Short spreading ridges often originate at outer margin 

 of the leaf-scars and extend down the stem for a short distance. 



FLOWERS — Appear in March or April before the leaves or sometimes when the leaves are 

 just appearing. Resemble the sweet pea in form; perfect and brilliant red, borne usually 

 in clusters of 4-8, oft^u developing from buds located at the base of lateral branches as well as 

 from buds located along the branches. 



FRtriT — A small, rose-colored to light brown, short-stalked pod. 2J-3 Inches long, about i of 

 an inch wide, containiug about 6 broadly ovate, flattened, light-brown seeds. Pods may persist 

 until early winter and are often produced in enormous quantities. 



WOOD — Ridg-porous; heavy, hard, not strong, rich dark reddish-brown with light sapwood. 

 Weighs 39.65 lbs. per cubic foot. Not found on the market. 



DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS — The Redbud, also known as the Judas Tree, can be 

 distinguished by its simple alternate and heart-shaped leave?. Its slender unarmed and light 

 brown twigs with reddish-streaked pith, its small, thin, leathery fruit-pods, and its perfect, 

 pea-like, brilliant red blossoms which occur in clusters of 4-8, appearing in early spring before 

 the leaves i-nd developing from a cluster of buds located at the base of a lateral branch as 

 well as from buds located along the twigs. This is the only tree native to this State which 

 develops a cluster of purplish flower buds on a branch just below the origin of a lateral twig. 



RANGE — Ontario through New Jersey to Florida, westward to Minnesota and Arkansas. 



DISTRIBUTION IN FENNSYLVANIA — Not known to occur In the northern or eastern parts 

 of the State. Reporteil from the southeastern, southern, central and western parts. Common 

 In the Schuylkill and Ferkioraen Valleys and along parts of the Susquehanna River Valley, 

 especially northwest aud southeast of Harrisburg. Common about Gettysburg, and south of 

 Chambtrsburg in the Cumberland Valley. Occurs in a dense pure stand covering about one 

 acre southwest of Gettysburg. 



HABITAT — Prefers rich moist soils. Common in abandoned flelds, cut-over and open wood- 

 lands. Also found n the understory of the forest. Endures shade but prefers plenty of light. 



IMPORTANCE OF THE SPECIES — This tree is of no commercial Importance as a forest tree 

 but where a tall shru'o or a small tree is desired for ornamental planting hardly a more 

 attractive one could be found. It has a pleasing form at all seasons of the year, an exceptionally 

 beautiful and abundant bloom in spring before the leaves comp out, and In addition, grows 

 rapidly. It is cultivated extensively in Europe as an ornamental tree. 



